Food City 500: Predictions for Top 5

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Three races are in the books, and it's time to head to the bullring at Bristol Motor Speedway for the Food City 500.

Personally, like many fans, I love Bristol. Nothing beats short-track racing, with 43 drivers bumping and banging throughout the course of the race.

The last time the Sprint Cup Series came here was in August, when Brad Keselowski won the race en route to earning a berth in the Chase through the wild card. Last spring, it was Kyle Busch who won at Thunder Valley.

Who will be the next to win at the self-proclaimed "World's Fastest Half-Mile?" Here are my predictions for Sunday's race.

5. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

Jason Smith/Getty Images

I'm picking Earnhardt Jr. based on both his track record and the fact that he's starting the season very well. He finished second at Daytona and 10th at Las Vegas this past Sunday, and is currently sitting at fourth in points.

Now, as for his track record at Bristol, the bad news is that Dale Earnhardt, Jr. hasn't even finished in the top 10 at Bristol since 2010.

The good news, though, is that he doesn't finish poorly at this track either. The last time he finished outside the top 20 at Bristol was 2001.

He has one win, seven top fives and 12 top 10s at this track.

4. Carl Edwards

Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

Though Carl Edwards hasn't won the spring race at Bristol, he has won here in the fall twice.

He's also shown improvement over the years in the spring. His last four years in the spring race here are 12th, 15th, sixth and second.

While I don't think he'll get the win, I think Edwards will record another top five.

3. Greg Biffle

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Greg Biffle is having a great start to the season thus far. He's finished third in all three races this year.

So who's to say he won't finish third again?

He does very well here at Bristol. Though he's yet to win at this track, he has six top fives here, including three fourth-place finishes.

2. Kevin Harvick

Jerry Markland/Getty Images

Though Kevin Harvick has been up and down at Bristol in recent years, his track record not only here but in short tracks in general, and a good start to the season so far, have me believing that he'll finish second here.

He has one win at Bristol (spring 2005), and he did finish 11h and sixth in the last two spring races.

1. Kyle Busch

Jason Smith/Getty Images

Bristol is Kyle Busch's playground. No one has done better at this track in recent years than this guy.

He has five wins at this track, including last year's spring race.

And despite Bristol's unpredictability, he's also yet to finish outside the top 20 at Bristol since 2005.